How to Come Up With a Wedding Hashtag, From Couples Who Did It

 Though you might look back on the throwback photos of your parents' wedding to inspire fodder for your own upcoming nuptials, there's definitely been a shift in weddings since your folks tied the knot. Since Instagram—or ahem, iPhones—weren't a thing all those years ago, your ma and pa likely never had to spend time brainstorming their wedding hashtag. Finalizing all of the countless details for your big day brings the work of an additional full-time job, but deciding what social media presence you'll encourage guests to participate in might be the toughest deadline of all.

If you and your soon-to-be spouse (who always remembers to double tap all of your posts because inlove) are struggling to decide how to hashtag your ceremony, take the advice from couples who managed to nail it.

Your first inclination might not be your best.

Before Arielle Katz' then-boyfriend, now-husband, Ryan Alexander proposed, she was already daydreaming about her wedding hashtag. Since she had been to countless weddings before her own, she was accustomed to seeing the #'s-for-two trend on her feed and she knew she wanted to have an unique sentiment for their joint step toward marriage together. "There are some pretty awesome ones out there, and I wanted ours to be just as original and punny," she explains. They started with #RyangotmARled, a concoction of their two first names, but instead of jumping at the first stroke of genius, she thought of the practicality of the hashtag, a piece of advice she'd give to all couples. Since typing it in gave people the opportunity to misspell, or rather, spell ‘married' the right way, she wouldn't be able to stroll through their posts with the incorrect hashtag.

Be mindful—and selective—about what you pick as the official tag for your wedding and also, consider your audience, Arielle says. Though your bridesmaids and your best friends could probably figure out the accurate way to thumb in your hashtag (ahem, before the whiskey shots, that is), what about your great aunt who just discovered ‘The Facebook?'

Get an outsider's perspective.

When Ellie Mannix and Juan Lamonaca decided to go from happily in love to happily married, they wanted a record of the candid, funny images their friends took at their wedding. To make it easy, a wedding hashtag seemed like the best solution. The easiest one? Nope, Ellie says. She was too determined to use both of their last names, but found herself coming up blank until a friend came to the rescue. It wasn't the first time this pal helped out too, as Ellie notes, "She's known for her wittiness and wordsmith abilities, came up with the hashtag on the spot. She's also the creative mind behind several other couples' hashtags so it's no surprise that she was able to craft something so witty, relevant and inclusive of both our names."

Set to marry in January 2018, Ellie wouldn't have found ‘the Juan' hashtag—EllieFoundtheJuan—without an outsider's perspective. That's why she says to always get a second (or third) opinion from a trusted confidant who won't spill the beans. Specifically, not someone who is in the wedding party, but is completely removed apart from being a guest. "Sometimes when you're too involved, you overthink the process," she says. "My sisters and I had been trying to think of a hashtag for months and it was ironically a fairly new friend that thought of the perfect tag within minutes of asking her."

Make a list of meaningful things.

Not a writer? Or interested in a career in social media? Without a marketing-centric focus, you and your partner may struggle to develop the creativity needed to come up with your hashtag. That's why Arielle suggests a fun brainstorming session (with booze of course) with your partner to think about what defines your relationship, what's brought you together and what meaningful moments you value together. "It's hard to come up with one that you love! Keep brainstorming and playing around with variations of your name, places you met, things that mean something to you—it'll happen," she adds.

In the end, Arielle and Ryan went with RyanLoveKatz, which holds a double-meaning for everyone who knows these newlyweds, who became Mr. and Mrs. in July. In addition to being Arielle's last name, ‘Katz' is also a tribute to one of Ryan's favorite things. "My now husband is an insane crazy cat person, whose love of cats has also rubbed off on me," Arielle explains. Though you might want to think outside of the box and truly make your hashtag one-of-a-kind, sometimes the simple route can mean more—and make it easier for guests to remember when they capture an epic shot of you walking down the aisle, beginning your long life of marriage together.

THE FLASH Cast Talks How “the Wedding of the Century” Will Turn Out

Five years on and four shows since DC Comics and The CW launched their small screen universe with Arrow, the franchise continues to reshape what people expect from superhero television. One of the cornerstones of the Arrowverse is its inter-show crossovers, the latest of which is fast approaching in the form of Barry Allen and Iris West's long-awaited wedding. Though this season's big event takes place on what should be the happiest day of the Flash's life, we must remember that this is a comic book wedding, so things won't exactly go according to plan. During our trip to The Flash's Vancouver set earlier this year, we sat down with the cast to talk nuptials, wedding dresses, and the upcoming "Crisis on Earth-X."

At center stage of this year's crossover are Barry and Iris. For the actress who brings her to life, Candice Patton, it's a hugely exciting prospect. "It's a really important moment in DC history," Patton said. "It's cool that our nuptials are part of the crossover, and a big part of the crossover. It's a spectacle for sure." Throughout the show's four seasons, the pair have been through a lot and Patton thinks it's about time that they finally settle down. "It's been a long time coming. They've had other partners, relationships, trials, and tribulations. I think season four is a good time for them to make it all happen. The wedding of the century, essentially."

For the other half of Central City's happy couple, Grant Gustin, it's all about the spectacle. "It's bigger than ever," he said. "There's more people than ever included [and] some of the biggest sequences you'll see with the most superheroes we've ever seen together at any given time. Barry and Kara have a few interactions that are fun, classic Barry-and-Kara interactions."

Jesse L. Martin, who plays Iris' father Joe West, was likewise blown away by the scale of "Crisis on Earth-X." "I can tell you that it's a giant, giant, giant wedding," he said. "Everybody from every show is at the heart of this wedding, so it seems to be the biggest wedding of the century." One of the highlights for the seasoned actor was getting to work with some of the Arrowverse's other supers, in particular a certain Kryptonian. "I'm a huge fan of Melissa, Supergirl," he continued. "I think she's just one of the best people ever. I love being around her. I really do. The Supergirl cast in general, they're all wonderful people."

Fan favorite Cisco will of course be returning, and Carlos Valdes gave us some insight into how he perceives Team Flash's tech genius. "Maybe it's audacious of me to say, but I've always felt that Cisco is a sort of window for the primary demographic of this show," Valdes said. "When they see Cisco interacting with these heroes, it's almost like they're interacting with these heroes. It carries with it a lot of responsibility, but all I have to do is stay true to the character and just tackle it like so. This year's crossover is no exception. I try to bring that degree of relatability and almost ‘fourth-walledness' to the interactions."

This season has seen the continuation of a huge character arc for Caitlin/Killer Frost, and that's opened up a whole world of opportunity for the actress who brings her to life, Danielle Panabaker. "Obviously, last year I had my powers sort of, but didn't cross over to as many of the other shows—really just went to Legends," she said. "This year was nice because I finally got the chance to suit up, as it were, and get out there and fight with everyone. Both Caitlin and Killer Frost do get to interact a little bit more with a lot of different characters in our universe. I have some really funny interactions with Dom, with his character. Heat Wave's really into Killer Frost."

Getting married during a full blown alien invasion can be tough. But for Candice Patton, it meant she got to find the perfect wedding dress for kicking intergalactic butt. "We flew to L.A. and I tried on dresses at Monique Lhuillier," Patton said. "And the first dress I tried on we were like, 'Okay, this is it. This is great. Feels good. Comfortable.' The most important thing was like, ‘Am I comfortable? Am I going to be able to, like, run away from aliens or whatever?' It was pretty neat."

Will the big day work out for Barry and Iris? Well, Candice's lips are sealed. But she did leave us with this little tease: "I think that you can expect on any DC TV show that weddings don't usually go as planned. You've got some villains who come in and try to spoil that. You've got aliens from Earth-X. You'll have to wait and see if they can actually get married at some point!"

"Crisis on Earth-X" begins on Supergirl and Arrow on Monday, November 27, and concludes with The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow on Tuesday, November 28. Will you be tuning in for the big day? Can't wait to see some evil versions of your favorite heroes? Just wanna see Cisco in a suit? Let us know in the comments!

Inside Bachelor Alum Whitney Bischoff's Cape Cod Wedding: See the Gorgeous Photos

When it came to her wedding day, Whitney Bischoff caught a lucky break with some especially compliant weather.

"It was sunny and warm and perfect," says former Bachelor contestant Bischoff, who wed Ricky Angel at the luxurious Wequassett Resort on Cape Cod on Saturday. "I really do feel like that was my [late] mom's hand in this. The whole day was everything I dreamed it would be."

Sunny skies weren't the only thing the couple's 150 guests — including fellow Bachelor alums Kaitlyn Bristowe, Shawn Booth, Carly Waddell and Evan Bass — enjoyed at the celebration, which was planned by Always Yours Events.

An emotional Bischoff was escorted down the aisle by her maternal grandmother, Mamaw, to the tune of "My Old Kentucky Home." She carried a bouquet of blush, white and nude blooms from The Wild Dahlia, including a single Stargazer lily, a tribute to her late mother, Carol.

Bischoff's dress, designed by her with the help of Audrey Grant Bridal, was particularly sentimental. "I found my mom's wedding dress in my grandmother's attic," she tells PEOPLE. "The lace, the buttons, everything that is an embellishment on my dress is from my mom's dress. It's beautiful."

After the vows and exchange of Sam Rafidia-designed rings, guests joined the newlyweds for a cocktail hour featuring Cape Codders (a signature drink made with cranberry and vodka) as well as Cosmopolitans. A raw bar served fresh oysters, lobster and crab.

Guests then gathered for a four-course dinner (menus were designed by stationer Amanda Day Rose) that included New England clam chowder, New York strip steak and herb-crusted cod. The cake featured four distinct tiers: vanilla, Italian olive oil, spiced carrot and chocolate.

Bischoff and Angel, who met on Bumble in 2015 after her split from former Bachelor Chris Soules, chose "Amazing Day" by Coldplay for their first dance. "The theme to our wedding is ‘Life has a beautiful crazy design,'" says Bischoff. "It's a line from our first dance [song] that we feel relates so much to our lives and how we got to where we are today."

Guests danced to jams by The Park Street Band and The Boston Common Band, and then at 10:30 p.m., gathered inside for an afterparty where late night snacks of sliders and quesadillas energized the crowd.

"It was amazing," says Bischoff of her wedding day. And of her new husband: "There is no better person than Ricky for me," she says. "He keeps me laughing and makes me so happy."

Bridezilla Goes Over Wedding Budget, Demands Bridesmaids Pay for Wedding Gown

These bridesmaids should have read these instructions.

One monster-sized bridezilla named Carol, has truly gone mad.

First, she asked her group of bridesmaids to supply Excel spreadsheets with cake makers' details on her cake—but then it got even worse. Carol the wedding monster went over budget with her planning for the big day, so she asked her bridesmaids to chip in for her $10,500 wedding dress.

One of her “friends,” which is probably safe to say won't be a friend after this wedding, took to Mamamia to describe Carol's outrageous behavior in detail.

“At first, I thought Carol was just being a little overzealous when the group emails asking for input on everything from bridesmaid dress colors, hairstyles, makeup looks, bridal dresses, buttonholes for the groomsmen (something I had to Google) and table decorations came flooding through [sic], quickly taking up a large chunk of my day,” the anonymous woman posts.

But then Carol got even worse. How, you ask?

The anonymous woman started receiving a number of emails at work, in which Carol asked her friends to supply spreadsheets with cake maker details including contact details, price brackets, flavors and an idea of how “prestigious” each cake would be.

Oh boy.

“I had to read the email about three times to gauge what she was asking me,” the woman writes. “After the third disbelieving scan, I felt my blood start boiling. Was she serious?!”

Bogged down by work, the woman didn't turn in her homework (the spreadsheet) until the weekend, the bride wrote back saying it would have been better had she received the document a day earlier.

After Carol found a wedding gown she liked, a satin Marchesa gown that retailed at a whopping $10,500, her friends soon received another group email—the worst one yet. Carol wanted $150 from each bridesmaid towards the dress because she had gone over budget. The subject line in the email read, “Bridesmaid dress contribution.”

“It was ‘totally fine if you can't,' but she would really love if we could ‘pitch in' around $150 each towards her ‘dream dress.' That it'd mean so very much to her and would mean that as she walked down the aisle, she'd be wearing something we'd all had a part in,” wrote the bridesmaid.

The $150 was in addition to all the ladies spent on their bridesmaids duties, including their own $550 bridesmaid dresses, the accommodation for the wedding night, the bachelorette party, bridal shower and three spa days planned.

“I nearly threw my phone across the room, such was the rage that consumed me,” the woman wrote. “I'm starting to think I might have to bail on this wedding, and friendship.”

The Elegance Collection From Missy Dress In This Season

It's so nice to be back with you again today and I have to say that I've loved writing this feature. To start with, it features an incredibly beautiful new collection of wedding dresses and secondly, the designer in question is just such a wonderful woman that it's a huge pleasure to share her work here on Love My Dresses. Without further ado, let me introduce you to the elegant and alluring new collection from Missy Dress.

Julia Taylor is an award winning bridal designer who was crowned Wedding Dressmaker Designer of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards earlier this year. She's also an artisan maker, modern day couturier and downright fabulous woman. When you speak to Taylor, her passion for her work just sweeps you up and you're left in no doubt that this is a lady who pours her heart and soul into everything she does.

Wedding dresses by Missy Dress are instantly recognisable. They're elegant, alluring, bohemian and beyond pretty. The designs are created in the finest fabrics and delicate laces with intricate detail that adds another layer of grace and refinement to each gown.

All of Taylor's designs are lovingly handmade by her small and friendly team in her Staffordshire studio. This is a true ‘atelier' in the most genuine sense of the word. They work surrounded by so many things that inspire them and if you step into the studio, you'll be taking your first step on a unique creative journey.

Missy Dress is renowned for simple and uncluttered elegance as well as her signature subtle detailing and the new ‘Songs of Love' collection is possibly her most romantic yet.

With soft layers of sheer fabrics, ‘Songs of Love' is a play on transparency and luminosity. There are separates and overdresses in soft silk organzas, French chiffons, delicate tulles and fine laces, with glass pearl buttons and tiny crystals that catch the light. These can be worn with silk slip dresses and corseted dresses too for a more structured silhouette and this collection is perfect for the fine art bride.

I just love this collection from Julia Taylor. The tiny pearl buttons, the delicate hand-dyed lace applique and the crystal beadwork that catches the light all mix together to create the softest, prettiest dresses. I love the bridal separates in chalky colours and those fabrics… I swoon.

I grew up in a family where, for generations, mothers taught their daughters to sew. My sewing machines would often be whizzing into the small hours as I made my own clothes and I'm now proud to work in my beautiful studio, using old-fashioned couture techniques to hand craft heirloom dresses that we hope will be treasured forever.

Common things you forget about when planning your wedding

edding planning can be one of the most stressful things you'll ever experience.

Once you've got past all the guest-list politics and nitty-gritty, the last thing you want is to walk down the aisle and realise you've not organised transport for the groom and he's currently speeding there on a hired bike.

Don't panic! Here's the common things people forget about when planning a wedding.

Ceremony music

Not only do you need to think about your processional (when you enter) and recessional (when you both exit together), you also need to think about pre-ceremony music to fill that awkward silence when your guests have arrived and are waiting for you, and music during the signing of the registry.

The signing of the registry is a good time to have live music, whether it's Auntie Joan singing Madonna or a string quartet playing Four Seasons.

Make all your Pinterest dreams come true

You've been Pinning like crazy since you got engaged (let's not lie: you started two years before you met), DIY-ing for months and you've got 1,000 paper cranes to hang.

But now it's 2 days before the wedding and you've suddenly realised you need to do it all yourself.

DIY takes time, but so does set-up. Do the smart thing: outsource.

Stylists can help you bring your dreams to life, all without having to shed a single tear over a crepe-paper flower.

If a stylist is way out of your budget, give yourself plenty of time for set-up.

Make sure to ask your venue if you're allowed to decorate and what time you can come in the day before.

BrideSquad

You've decided on your own hair and make-up but have you considered your bridesmaids?

Do you have a cohesive image in mind or do you like your friends' own individual styles?

Are you paying or leaving it with them?

Don't forget your squad!

Don't get hangry

Make sure you eat breakfast, pack a snack and don't forget to eat some of the delicious canapes you've chosen.

Have a word with your caterer and ask for a dedicated server who will supply the two of you (and only you) with drinks and food.

A hangry wedding party is not a happy wedding party!

Last-minute checklist 

Before your wedding day, check with your venue to find out who will be available to you on the day should anything go wrong, what the WiFi capabilities are (if you need it), and if you're able to leave gifts/flowers at the venue for collection the following day.

Minimise the stress of last-minute nasty surprises!

Even if your wedding day doesn't go exactly to plan (and something will always go wrong), the important thing is that you're marrying the person you love.

Kick back, relax and, when in doubt, put somebody else in charge of making sure things go smoothly.

Ignorance is bliss – celebrate baby! You're getting married! Woo!

All eyes on Melania Trump at Steve Mnuchin’s version of a royal wedding

All eyes were on First Lady Melania Trump as she left the White House to attend one of the big social events of the Washington D.C. season Saturday: the lavish wedding of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to Scottish-born actress Louis Linton.

America doesn't have royalty, so we can't pull off a Pippa Middleton extravaganza. But our constitutional aversion to monarchy didn't stop President Donald Trump, his wife Melania and others associated with his White House from putting in a good effort at playing America's ruling class at the event at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C.

Vice President Mike Pence presided over the ceremony, while other White House guests included Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, HUD Secretary Ben Carson and even Sean Spicer. The 300 guests also included Wall Street elite.

Melania Trump was in a blush-pink chiffon gown by designer Gilles Mendel, while the bride definitely went the royal route with a white lace princess gown and diamond tiara, Vanity Fair The groom wore coattails, and Ivanka Trump also appeared in a blush-pink dress.

Bagpipers and ballerinas were among the evening's entertainment, and some guests were bused from the Trump International Hotel prior to the ceremony, CNN and Vanity Fair reported.

The marriage is Mnuchin's third and Linton's second. The multi-millionaire Mnuchin, 54, worked at Goldman Sachs and as a film producer prior to joining the Trump administration. As an actress, Linton, 36, appeared in the TV show "Cold Case" and the 2016 movie "Cabin Fever." They met at a wedding reception in Los Angeles in 2013 and have been engaged since 2015.

Reazin, Skillett wedding

 

Shelby Lee Reazin and Jake Matthew Skillett were married April 15 at Lakeside Cedar Lodge in rural Cherryvale. Pastor Tom Reazin, grandfather of the bride, officiated at the 4 p.m. double-ring nuptials.

The bride's parents are Richard and Kim Reazin of Galesburg, formerly of Altamont.  The groom's parents are Bub and Cindy Skillett of Parsons.

Sarah White of Independence, Missouri, served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Christi Becker of McPherson, Kayla Heady of Erie, Angel Regis of Edna and Jessica Skillett, sister of the groom, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Josh Fitzwater of Parsons was best man. Groomsmen were Brett Cruse of Parsons, Jason Berthelette of Massachusetts, Brandon Bolesky of Mounds, Oklahoma, Nick Skillett, brother of the groom, of Leawood and Cole Reazin, brother of the bride, of Galesburg.

Tyson Lucas, cousin of the groom, of Chanute and Jonny Reazin, uncle of the bride, of McPherson served as ushers.

Taylor Johnson of Oswego was flower girl. Payton Fitzwater, nephew of the groom, of Parsons and Jhett Reazin, cousin of the bride, of McPherson were ring-bearers.

Andee Fitzwater and Daza Werner attended the gift table. Kathy Lucas and Michaela Lucas attended the guest book. Florists were Jenny Stewart and Cindy Traxson. Gage Gatton and Bryleigh Strasser handed out Easter egg baskets. Shelby Blackburn, Gracie Gatton and April Lubbers handed out sparklers. B. Win Visions was videographer.

D.J. Neil Springer provided music for the ceremony.

For the reception, the bride's uncle, Timmy Reazin, made the wedding cake. Cake table attendants were Jane Blackburn, Debbie Gatton, Jenny Stewart and Danica Strasser. Tom and Ruth Reazin, the bride's grandparents, prepared and served the meal.

Mrs. Skillett is a 2010 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont. She received a bachelor of science degree in animal science in 2013 from Kansas State University. She works at West Central Veterinary Service in Rockville, Indiana.

Mr. Skillett is a 2008 graduate of Parsons High School. He is a certified dog trainer and works at the Putnam County Jail in Greencastle, Indiana. He is co-owner of the VonBernd K9 Training Center in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

The couple are at home at Rockville, Indiana, and plan a wedding trip in the future to Disneyworld.

BRIDAL DESIGNER THANKS FACEBOOK FOR HELPING HER FIND MISSING WEDDING DRESS

A wedding designer has praised the "incredible power of social media" after Facebook helped to reunite her with one of her dresses, which was "stolen" from a shop window display.

Sophie Creed's bespoke design, worth £3,250 according to Wales Online, was on display at an empty shop front on Cardiff's Castle Street when it disappeared on Saturday.

Three days later, Sophie, who makes wedding dresses under the brand E&W Couture, shared the news on Facebook asking if anyone knew what had happened to her "distinctive" Maya gown.

"I realise its a massive long shot but it's possibly the most distinctive gown going and Cardiff's a small place so I'm wondering if it can be found," she wrote. "There's only so many places it can be sold/worn or god knows so if anyone knows anything would be massively appreciated to get in touch and find my dress."

Her appeal was shared hundreds of times and within 90 minutes, the gown had been found.

"The post had been shared 200 times in the first hour. It was crazy," Sophie told Wales Online.

"I thought it would be sold and end up in the bridal industry somewhere or be altered to fit someone, so if enough local people saw it, they'd recognise the dress and get in touch. I wasn't expecting to find it so quickly."

She later thanked the Facebook community for their support and said she was "completely overwhelmed" by the response she received.

Since the dress was returned to Sophie by the police, an arrest has also been made. According to local media, South Wales Police have charged a 49-year-old man for burglary from a commercial premises.

Sophie's story comes after a bride in Edinburgh shared her delight and amazement after a Facebook post helped her reclaim her 147-year-old wedding dress when it disappeared at her local dry cleaners.

More than half of Britons regret this one part of their wedding day

From wedding dress changes to cakes so high you need a step ladder to cut them, the wedding business is completely booming.

However, while many couples getting ready to say 'I do' live by the mantra 'you only get married once', it means they don't spare any cost when it comes to making their big day special.

And this has proved to be a big mistake for many as over half of Britons have admitted their biggest regret is how much they spent.

In research conducted by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk, they found that while many pairs admitted it was the best day of their lives, they wished they hadn't quite blown the budget so much.

With the couples admitting they'd spent on average £19,870 on their wedding day, brides revealed they thought the biggest unnecessary expense was the flowers.

However, for men, the flowers came third on their list of biggest wastes of money as they actually stated the bride's wedding dress was what they wasted the money on the most.

We don't think you'll hear many brides saying that, especially if they've found one of these beauties from the high street.

Here's the top five things the groom wish they hadn't spent so much money on:

1. My wife’s wedding dress
2. Bridesmaid dresses
3. Floral arrangements/wedding bouquets
4. The suits
5. The reception venue

Brides mostly regretted spending money on:

1. Floral arrangements/wedding bouquets
2. Decorations
3. The suits
4. Food and drink
5. Car/transportation

It looks like the diamond ring – which both sides of a couple seemed happy to spend money on – is about to get that little bit cheaper though as a new engagement trend has happened.

Forgetting all about the previous diamonds, it's now a top trend to buy coloured jewels.

This Dallas Wedding Took Floral Chandeliers to a Whole New Level

It all started with a fake bachelor party. Cameron Keegan and his friends were in Dallas for Labor Day weekend in 2012, and Cam had been nominated to serve as the weekend’s fake bachelor. “A mutual friend of ours invited me to join in the celebrations,” says Meredith Johnson. “Cam and I talked the whole time, and I hung out with their group for the weekend.” On the day he was set to return to Arizona, Cam made sure to get Meredith’s phone number, though she didn’t think he’d actually call. “He ended up calling as soon as he’d landed, and the next weekend he sent me an obnoxiously large bouquet for my birthday. It made my day, and we soon started talking every day.” After 18 months dating long-distance, Cam made the move to Dallas, and nine months later, the couple was engaged. “We went to Temecula, California, for a week of wine tasting with Cam’s family, and my mom joined us as well,” says the bride. She thought nothing of it when the groom’s brother, a professional photographer, asked the couple to pose for a photo at one of the vineyards—and was absolutely shocked when she saw Cam get down on one knee.

The pair spent just over a year planning their November 14, 2015, wedding at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas. “I knew I wanted to have our ceremony at St. Michael’s Church, so once I had a date at the church, the rest of the details fell into place,” Meredith explains. A former corporate event planner, the bride had no trouble tackling the details. “The hardest part was letting our coordinator, Gro Designs, take over a month before the wedding!” she laughs. With an elegant vision and a soft blush and brown color palette, the couple created a lush celebration that was the perfect fit for their formal golf club setting. Photographer Shaun Menary joined the happy couple to document their big day, a lush and classic celebration done right!

Meredith put a modern spin on tradition with her Sareh Nouri wedding dress. The gazaar gown features two tiers of horsehair ruffles and a straight, folded neckline. “It was important to me that I felt like I was picking the dress I wanted to wear, and thankfully my mom, mother-in-law, and friends all adored this one as much as I did!” says the bride. Beneath the chapel-length train, she wore off-white Kate Spade pumps with a bow on each toe.

The bride’s full bouquet combined white, ivory, and blush garden roses, hydrangeas, and ranunculus.

Soft brown was the perfect neutral accent for the couple’s delicate pink color scheme. Meredith’s 12 bridesmaids wore a chiffon number by Amsale. “I wanted them all in the same dress, and this style worked great on a variety of body types,” she explains.

Cam had 12 groomsmen as well, and all wore tuxedos to match the groom’s shawl collar attire. “Our wedding party was very important to us. They each know us individually and as a couple, and we couldn’t have imagined doing it without them by our sides,” Meredith says.

The flower girl wore a tea-length dress in ballet pink, while the ring bearer wore a tux. “He was nervous the night before, but our flower girl told him she would walk with him the whole way,” says Meredith. “She’s got three little brothers, so she knew how to make him feel comfortable.”

The pair married in a traditional Episcopalian ceremony and opted not to write their own vows. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it, and that I’d be crying too hard!” says Meredith.

“Cam really wanted part of the night to be outside,” says Meredith of cocktail hour on the golf club’s lawn. There, guests sipped champagne and chatted on luxe lounge furniture arranged beneath chandeliers hung from the trees.

Inside, the ballroom was washed in an elegant shade of pink. A hallway lined with curtains and candles, framed by a garland of white hydrangeas, led the way to the reception. The long head table was arranged beneath the oversized chandelier, which the couple’s florist dressed with hydrangeas, roses, and greenery.

The head table was topped with an oversized runner of blush and ivory roses, ranunculus, and hydrangeas. “Our head table was definitely the prettiest part of the room!” says the bride. And take a closer look at that floral chandelier! Meredith and Cam chose to go big with their blooms, and the result was totally worth it.

Surrounding tables were set with high and low arrangements of the same blooms, lit with votive candles. Each place setting featured a gold-rimmed plate and a printed menu. Dinner began with a signature salad, topped with Stilton cheese and dried cherries. For the main course, filet and crispy sea bass were served with Chantilly potatoes and green beans.

The towering wedding cake included layers of white cake with champagne, Chambord, and raspberry fillings. The tiers were hand-piped with swags and swirls, then finished with fresh flowers.

The groom’s cake was a doozy, chocolate cake filled with “B52” icing, a mix of totally indulgent Kahlua, Irish cream, and Grand Marnier.

The Think Big Party Band had everyone, from age 2 to 92, on the dance floor. “They played everything from the ‘70s to today, and their song choices were spot-on!” raves the bride. “It was the perfect way to mingle with our guests: On the dance floor!”

After a whirlwind celebration, Cam and Meredith honeymooned in St. Thomas to really unwind. “People get so wrapped up in trying to please everyone,” says the bride. “Instead, remember that this day is for YOU, and that marrying the person you love comes first.” We couldn’t have said it better!

Hever Castle is hosting a huge wedding showcase this month

Kent couples who got engaged over Christmas may be looking for a magical venue to host their big day in the county.

One of Kent's most romantic castles, Hever Castle, is holding a wedding showcase this month, giving guests the rare opportunity to experience a wedding ceremony and reception venues set up as they would be for a wedding.

As well as the three venues located in the Castle grounds, the Hever Castle Golf Club will for the first time be showcasing two function rooms perfect for wedding receptions, with one dressed for a wedding reception.

You can wander at your leisure around the facilities and experience first hand the magic of a wedding at Hever Castle, before meeting the team who will discuss your requirements with you.

Intimate gatherings, exuberant parties and outdoor weddings are all catered for in Astor Wing, or the stunning lakeside location of the Guthrie Pavilion.

Hever Castle Golf Club, only a two minute drive from the Astor Wing, will also be opening its doors to Wedding Showcase visitors. There are two function rooms for wedding receptions, the Princes Suite and the Astor Suite, which cater for up to 100/130 sit down and 160/200 for an evening reception. The Princes Suite will be set up for a wedding reception and available to view at your leisure throughout the day.

Couples who book a provisional wedding on the day and confirm within ten days of receiving the Booking Contract will also qualify for a 10 per cent discount on standard packages.

The Hever Castle Wedding Showcase will be held on Sunday, January 15, from 10am to 3pm.

A two course Sunday carvery will be available in the golf club's Astor Restaurant, with a 10 per cent discount for wedding showcase guests.